2 Responses to scottsdale98agassi_03hewitt

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 27, 2024 at 2:06 pm

   Points won by each set: | 36-28, 53-49 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   21 % Agassi – 16 of 76
   23 % Stoltenberg – 21 of 90

   Points won by each set: | 32-25, 33-26 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   32 % Hewitt – 18 of 55
   37 % Philippoussis – 23 of 61

   Comparison of two Anglo-Saxon (1 American, 3 Australians) Franklin Templeton finals with similar scorelines & contrasting game-styles: Agassi & Hewitt were glued to the baseline while Stoltenberg & Philippoussis presented the attacking attitude (Stoltenberg had twofold more S/V actions mainly due to his lower percentage of points won directly behind the serve), moreover both finals were dominated by Australian coaches/former players (Cahill and Roche in 1998 while Stoltenberg and McNamara in 2003).
   After a disastrous year 1997, Agassi, who dropped outside the Top 100, announced that he would regain the top spot of men’s tennis in 1998; admittedly he failed to do it that year, but in 1999 he was again playing amazing tennis, similar to the period between August ’94 and August ’96 when noone doubted he was the best player in the world along with Sampras. Against Stoltenberg [47], Agassi [50] played very solid tennis, but he was struggling a lot in the 2nd set as he saved break points at 1:2 (one), 2:3 (two) and 3:4 (three), being two points away from losing the set at 5:6. “I feel like a rookie all over again,” said Agassi. “After all the hard work and tough times over the last year, now I’m holding this trophy and feeling like a million bucks.” After titles in San Jose & Scottsdale, Agassi’s 13-match winning streak was snapped with a 6-7, 6-3, 3-6 loss at Indian Wells, by Gambill in the quarterfinals. Agassi was ready to conquer the tennis world again! He only needed to rediscover how to play at majors well, it happened at the French Open ’99…
   Hewitt [1] was the best, most consistant player in the world between September 2001 and March 2003; Scottsdale ’03 it was a pen-ultimate event when he seemed to be a ruler of the 00s. His victory over the fellow Aussie was very methodical: Hewitt broke at 2-all in 1st, and 0:0 in the 2nd set, firmly holding throughout the match, not allowing his opponent to play in a chip-and-charge style. Philippoussis [90] had his chances to break the serve (two adv. break points) only in the last game of the final before making an error on Hewitt’s first championship point. “Any time you win any kind of tournament is fantastic,” Hewitt said. “This is only my second tournament of the year after the Aussie Open. For me to have another good start is important. I enjoy playing this stretch (Scottsdale, Indian Wells, Miami). I got better and better as the week went on and that’s a real bonus.” Hewitt triumphed at Indian Wells, but in the second round of Key Biscayne he was sensationally defeated by a veteran Clavet (4-6, 4-6) and it meant the beginning of his end on the top, the future revealed that Federer, Roddick and Ferrero were better that year… Hewitt was a beneficiary of his times. The early 00s were characterised by slowing down conditions (surfaces, balls) as well as improving the tennis racquets allowing to play passing-shots and lobs with bigger accuracy – Hewitt was a specialist of both strokes. # The best serve-and-volleyers of the 90s were dying out in the early 00s, Hewitt notched several impressive wins over them not being forced to even play a tie-break.

   Agassi’s route to his 36th title:
   1 Albert Portas 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
   2 Nicolas Lapentti 7-5, 6-1
   Q Jan-Michael Gambill 6-3, 7-6(5)
   S Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-1
   W Jason Stoltenberg 6-4, 7-6(3)

   Hewitt’s route to his 18th title:
   1 Fernando Vicente 6-4, 6-3
   2 Wayne Ferreira 7-5, 6-1
   Q Alex Corretja 6-4, 6-2
   S Taylor Dent 6-2, 6-4
   W Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 6-4

   Serve & volley: Agassi 1/1, Stoltenberg 7/13
   Serve & volley: Hewitt 0, Philippoussis 3/7

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   June 27, 2024 at 3:02 pm

   # Examples of Hewitt’s easy ‘best of three’ wins over the best serve-and-volleyers of the 90s (all matches outside clay), usually not being broken,
   helping him to gain/maintain his status of the best player in the world:

   Queens Club ’00: Ivanisevic 6-4, 6-4
   Queens Club ’00: Sampras 6-4, 6-4
   Stuttgart ’00: Krajicek 6-4, 7-5
   Stuttgart ’00: Rusedski 6-4, 6-4
   Lisbon ’00: Sampras 7-5, 6-0
   Adelaide ’01: Arthurs 6-4, 6-3
   Queens Club ’01: Rusedski 6-4, 6-4
   Sydney ’01: Rafter 7-5, 6-2
   s’Hertogenbosch ’01: Ivanisevic 6-4, 7-5
   San Jose ’02: T.Martin 6-3, 7-5
   Indian Wells ’02: Henman 6-1, 6-2
   Scottsdale ’03: Philippoussis 6-4, 6-4

   Among players born in the 80s, only a few decided to play S/V on a regular basis, without spectacular results.
   Hewitt enjoyed winning records against them all: 5-1 Dent, 4-2 F.Lopez, 4-0 Llodra, 2-0 G.Muller

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